Arts training for teachers emphasizes collaboration

More than 600 Louisiana educators are in Lafayette this week for the third annual Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute, hosted by the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. Teachers are learning about increasing student engagement through the arts.(Photo: Rachel Gaudry, courtesy of Louisiana A+ Schools)

More than 600 Louisiana educators are in Lafayette this week to learn more about integrating arts into their classroom lessons.

The Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute is being hosted by the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. The institute is taking place at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Schools that are part of the A+ network have a strong focus on an arts-integrated education. The whole school model encourages creativity and artistry in all subjects, even ones such as math, science and English. This year, Ridge Elementary and J. Wallace James Elementary are joining the network.

"This is a whole school reform model," said Jacques Rodrigue, executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. "The goal is to have the entire faculty working together to not only integrate the arts in the classrooms, but also work on our other seven essentials, which include things like understanding that students learn in different ways and having an infrastructure that leads to collaboration among the teachers so they can make greater connections between subjects."

Ridge Elementary Principal Mark Rabalais said he has been encouraged by the enthusiasm he's seen from teachers and other staff members who are participating in the training.

"It's been really fun and creative. It's been a great way for the teachers to collaborate and look at the curriculum and lessons in a whole new light," Rabalais said. "It's pushing us all out of our comfort zones. It's an interesting and fun process."

More than 600 Louisiana educators are in Lafayette this week for the third annual Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute, hosted by the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. Teachers are learning about increasing student engagement through the arts.(Photo: Rachel Gaudry, courtesy of Louisiana A+ Schools)

Rodrigue said the goal of the training is not to give teachers more work or a new curriculum, but to be a starting point for ongoing teamwork.

"It's really about getting them as a school to come together and work in the best interest of their students," Rodrigue said. "We look at this as at least a three-year process. We really see the most growth at schools between year one and year two. We work with schools for a long period of time and do customized training, giving them what they need, when they need it, so that students can realize the greater impact."

Rabalais said he thinks the training will lead to some different approaches at Ridge this year.

"I think you'll have a little more laughter, more movement in class," Rabalais said. "The idea that we are learning is that you will see a lot more student-centered lessons. You'll see the students leading the plays, the performances and talking about the artwork. You might see a little less of the traditional teacher-guided lessons that we are so used to imagining in a traditional classroom."